Southeast

Giants 101 provides 24/7 obsessive sports coverage of the New York Giants as a part of Sports Media 101. For news,
op/ed, game reviews, team updates and even rumors you will find all of it on Giants 101. Have an opinion - join
the discussion and drop a comment. If it's about the Giants, it's on Giants 101.

A once daily email with the top 5 most important stories from around Sports
Media 101.

Email

News Archives

New York Giants’ Rueben Randle Looking to Prove His Worth in Absence of Victor Cruz

December 22nd, 2013 at 7:00 AM By Doug Rush

If there was ever a time that New York Giants wide receiver, Rueben Randle, needed to seize an opportunity, Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions is that time for him to do so.

With Hakeem Nicks' status with the New York Giants for the 2014 season and beyond in doubt due to his looming free agency and with Victor Cruz out due to needing knee surgery this past week after suffering that injury along with a concussion that knocked him out of the Giants 23-0 loss to the Seattle Seahawks this past Sunday.

Randle will likely be used as an every-down receiver on the field for the Giants and he will have the chance to try and impress the coaches and show them that he can be a legitimate go-to threat on the field. So far in 2013, Randle has shown signs that he can be the kind of receiver for the Giants, but in other games, Randle has looked like a rookie making typical rookie mistakes.

So far, Randle has 37 catches for 571 yards and six touchdowns in the 2013 season, but what won't show up in the stat column is some of the bone-headed mistakes Randle has made; whether it be running the wrong route or not being able to catch a pass and having it batted up in the air, both things have resulted in Eli Manning's interception totals being up.

With Nicks' status unknown for 2014, the media asked Randle if they feel that he can take over for the Giants number one wide receiver, who has failed to score a touchdown this season and the second-year wide receiver gave an optimistic answer, but said he'll continue to battle no matter what.

Despite making some of those mentioned mistakes in the season, Randle said that he feels that he's turned a bit of corner as far as producing on the field goes and thinks that while his 2013 season was good, his 2014 could be even bigger.

"Maybe from a numbers standpoint," Randle said when asked if the third year for a receiver is the biggest breakout season. "But I felt like I made an improvement and got better this year. Maybe bigger numbers next year. Would have liked to have done a lot more," he said of this season so far. "Just trying to get better and finish out the season strong and make some more plays and end on a good note and look forward to next year."

The Giants roster for next season will be facing a lot of uncertainty and unknown following its first losing season since 2004 and Randle's production over the next two weeks could answer some of that, especially with Nicks and if they attempt to re-sign him or simply let him walk away as a free agent in March.

8 Responses to “New York Giants’ Rueben Randle Looking to Prove His Worth in Absence of Victor Cruz”

Rookie mistakes? That’s because he’s a rookie. Well, effectively a rookie, as he was practically barred from playing his rookie year while all his other classmates were getting real, on-the-job experience. He was instead doing “mental reps.”

With no Cruz and Nicks doing what he’s doing in this his final year as a giant, hard to imagine Randle doing anything today He’s barely been able to function as the number 3 WR with some team’s No. 3 corner covering him. Jack him up to the No 1 or 2 spot and increase his competition and he’ll likely perform miserably, especially under the circumstance that is our offensive line. We’ll learn nothing about Randal today. I said it earlier in the week: Job 1 is try and escape injury, especially to Eli. That means run, run, run, punt. Outcome is irrelevant. If Eli throws more than 15 times today it will be a crime.

Oh not saying will or won’t … only who should. Diehl and $nee are finished. Only Daddy Tom keeps $nee in the picture. He should vacation with Kyle Shanahan. Diehl is totally done. Baas … I’d dump him, but the cap hit may save him.